In my 30 or so years of existence, I’ve spent a good 15 to 20 years in the work force. I’ve had good bosses and bad bosses. I’ve had co-workers I’ve loved and who I consider family…and I’ve had co-workers I probably will never see again. I’ve worked as a minion, a trainer, a key holder, and a manager. I’ve had jobs that have changed me as a person and jobs that are completely weird and unique. But in every job, no matter what it is, I need to be inspired. I need to feel like I can make a difference and challenge myself to do better. This is a feeling that has forced me in and out of companies and has helped influence several decisions I’m both proud of and ashamed of…
During a particular difficult time in my professional career, I was given the book, Creativity Inc. by my dad. It was a pre-run copy that he got from the library where he worked and he allowed me to read it in the hopes it would inspire me to get out of my funk. What resulted after reading Creativity Inc. was a life-changing moment…a defining moment…in my career. It completely changed the way I view management, work life, and the humanity (or lack thereof) of corporate America.
Written by Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, Creativity Inc. sets out to explore how we can bring fun and creativity back into the workday. Meant for managers who want to lead their employees to new heights, this manual of sorts aims to train individuals to inspire originality and positivity in the workforce. By using examples of how he manages at Pixar, as well as how day-to-day operations are led at the studio, Catmull teaches readers how to build a creative culture, no matter what your company aims to do or sell.
It’s no secret that Pixar is a behemoth in the animation industry. With 30 or so Academy Awards and movies that almost guarantee a box-office hit, Pixar knows what they’re doing. So what’s the secret? Why is Pixar so widely admired…and so profitable? The answer is simple…the employees.
People at Pixar are encouraged to brainstorm. They are encouraged to take risks. They are encouraged to fail and encouraged to dream. THEY LIKE WORKING THERE. They’re committed to doing their best and pushing themselves because their success is everyone’s success. There are no scary labels there. No “rules” about who you can and can’t talk to. Do yourself a favor and Google “Pixar Offices”…you’ll see that nearly everyone surrounds themselves with things they love, people they love, objects they love. It’s a company that knows it’s only as good as the people that work there…and the people that work there love and respect that.
That’s not to say the path has been easy. Pixar wasn’t always the amazing company it is today, and it took a long time, and a lot of training, to get leadership to where it is today…but when a company has leaders that believe in the message and that work WITH the team instead of ABOVE the team, well, then you are on the way to greatness.
At its core, Creativity Inc. begs to answer the following question: What does it mean to manage well? Everyone has their own idea of what a GOOD manager is, but what qualities in a leader make a team successful? How does one learn those qualities and use them in a way that will encourage the team to motivate each other and encourage each other to succeed? Filled with all kinds of helpful quips and tips, this book attempts to offer some suggestions on how to manage, how to lead, how to inspire, and how to motivate. If a leader doesn’t lead or isn’t trusted, the results can be detrimental.
After I read Creativity Inc., I quit my job. I came to realize that I was not happy and was not being encouraged and motivated in the ways I knew I needed to be. After checking Pixar’s employment page (because I mean, I’d wash floors just to work there!), I embarked on a job search to find something I could stand behind, a company I believed in and a job I could be proud of…and I found it. And everything changed. My stress levels plummeted. My interest in work and success improved. Hell, my desire to just do my daily job was fueled by the fact that I was HAPPY. This is the secret, folks. Whatever it is that makes you happy, that will help fuel your success no matter what it is you do. Pixar knows it. Google knows it. More and more companies are FINALLY coming to realize that when their employees are happy, the company benefits…and if companies big and small make this a priority in how to improve their business, well, I think corporate America can make a huge change for the better…and as individuals, we can make changes that will help us for the better, too…both personally and professionally.
Looking for a new book to read? Check in every Friday for a “Bee Happy” post, where I share reviews of books I’ve read or other book-themed lists.
The Hob-bee Hive 